Seminar examines Guyana’s involvement with ACTO

A National seminar on the Amazon Co-operation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) in Guyana convened today at the Guyana International Conference to highlight Guyana’s role in the integration process of the Amazon region.

The one-day forum also provided the opportunity for the exchange of information to allow stakeholders to understand how they could individually contribute to the sustainable development of the Amazon region.  The aim of the seminar is to reach consensus on ideas and proposals to be presented at an upcoming Regional Seminar on similar issues. The major focus of the seminar was the highlight of the future prospects expected out of Guyana’s involvement with ACTO and the benefits which would accrue.

Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Elisabeth Harper at podium gives a background to the ACTO seminar. At head table from left to right are Ambassador Mauricio Dorfler, Executive Director, Permanent Secretariat, ACTO; H.E. Ambassador Robby Ramlakhan, Secretary General, ACTO; and Mrs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out the importance of the seminar being held at a time when the international community is focusing on the post-2015 agenda. She observed that while 2015 is the target date for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable development goals are also to be examined.

While she acknowledged that the day to day events in communities and national life would be at the forefront, the Minister urged that a wider focus should also be made with Guyana in the bigger international picture.

The Foreign Affairs Minister stated that when the Amazon Co-operation Treaty (ACT) was first signed in 1978, it was about environmental preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. She said this remains the focus of ACTO.

ACTO is an international organisation aimed at the promotion of sustainable development of the Amazon Basin. Its member states are: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

The ACT was signed on July 3, 1978 and amended in 1998. ACTO was created in 1995 to strengthen the implementation of the Treaty, and the Permanent Secretariat was later established in Brasilia, Brazil in 2002.

Observing that Guyana has been an active member of the Organisation, the Minister acknowledged that information has not been well circulated although the Ministry has been doing a lot of work in this respect.  She also acknowledged the work of other Ministries in the areas under focus by ACTO and urged participants to think outside of the box.

Participants at the ACTO seminar. Seated in front row from left to right are: Ms. Barbara Haley, Director, Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. David Singh, Head, Conservation International, Guyana; Mrs Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs; Ms. Chisa Mikami, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Guyana; Ms Jennifer Webster, Minister of Human Services and Social Security.

With respect to financing of ACTO which comes from outside the Region, she suggested to the Secretary General of the organisation, Ambassador Robby Ramlakhan that other means of sourcing finances should be examined.

Minister Rodrigues-Birkett noted also that there are more organisations to relate to now than when the treaty was first signed. She highlighted those in the region such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and Mercosur, the Common Market of the South.

The Foreign Minister noted that there are times when there is overlapping which enhances the need for a precise and clear agenda for ACTO, since organisations could morph out of control leading to a lack of finance to address issues.

She noted that Guyana has benefited from ACTO through several agencies. These include tourism, forestry, indigenous peoples, and maritime agencies..

Noting that Guyana and Suriname are two of the smaller members of ACTO, the Minister noted also that the two countries are also CARICOM members and it is often difficult to explain forest issues to some of the smaller members in CARICOM. However, membership of other organisations is complementary to what is being done in CARICOM.

She stated that discussions have been ongoing with Suriname on what issues can be fitted into the larger agenda of ACTO.  She noted that while all member states will have to agree on initiatives, there will be some that will be particular to Guyana and Suriname.

Guyana is currently the Chair of the Coordinating Commission of the Amazon Cooperation Council (CCOOR), and in the period January to June some ideas will be shared.

Noting that there was some consensus at the last Rio meeting, she pointed out there was the hope of having a simple Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of information with not only the ACTO and Amazon countries, but other basins such as the Congo Basin. Minister Rodrigues-Birkett urged that work on this aspect be continued.

Explaining that sustainable development has to have a good balance with economic, social and environmental balance the Minister said, “economic development without human development is no development in my view…Guyana will certainly play its part as we discuss these issues in going forward.”

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ramlakhan, in his address to participants pointed out that the seminar is opportune since feedback is necessary before policies could be developed. He observed that one of the major challenges is for ACTO to gain consensus from all eight member countries in order to move ahead.

Ambassador Ramlakhan also highlighted the fact that like other regional organisations, 90 percent of ACTO’s financing is sourced from outside the region, and to end this financial dependency is another of the challenges faced by ACTO. He added that the outcome of today’s seminar will be incorporated with the results of others and taken to the upcoming Regional Seminar.

The ACTO head also lauded Guyana as an emerging country in the area of natural resources and sustainable development.

Topics which came under discussion during today’s seminar included the role of ACTO in Sustainable Development in Guyana in Deforestation; Water Resources Management;  Tourism; Health; Indigenous Issues; Strengthening institutional and technical Capacity in the Amazon Countries: Managing of wild flora and fauna; Guyana Low Carbon Development Strategy and collaboration among the Guiana Shield countries that are members of ACTO: Proposed MOU between UNDP (Guyana) and ACTO.

Group sessions focused on sustainable development of the Amazon region through sustainable use of natural resources with focused attention on mankind.

Each working group presented their agreed proposals for the Regional Seminar Summary for an exchange of views.